Pathanamthitta, the youngest district in the State, is all set to become the third total palliative care district in Kerala, according to district panchayat president R. Haridas Edathitta.
In a statement issued here, Mr. Edathitta said Health Minister V.S. Sivakumar make the declaration at a public function to be held on the Collectorate premises here on Saturday.
The achievement came through the tireless efforts of all the 54 grama panchayats and three municipalities in identifying patients in their jurisdiction and providing them with palliative care, he said.
The local self-government institutions had been doing praiseworthy service to the needy patients by conducting periodic house visits.
District Medical Officer Gracy Ithaq said a total of 16,803 patients had already registered themselves for palliative care at 57 primary units in the district. Of this, 7,835 patients were bedridden, she said.
Mr. Edathitta said the local bodies had made due allocation in their annual budget for the programme implemented through the Health Department. Dr. Ithaq said 59 community nurses, who were specially trained in palliative care, had been treating patients at their homes on a daily basis.
She said secondary units had been functioning at the General, District, and Taluk Hospitals under the joint auspices of the Arogya Keralam project.
The district panchayat president will receive this year’s best district panchayat award from the Health Minister on the occasion. Mr. Edathitta said Eraviperoor and Ezhumattoor had been selected the best grama panchayats and Pathanamthitta the best municipality in the district in terms of palliative care programme.
K. Sivadasan Nair, MLA, and Anto Antony, MP, will also address the function.
16,803 patients have registered for palliative care
7,835 patents are bedridden
Published - March 06, 2015 12:00 am IST
